2014 Map of Bates

About this map

Poteau Mtn dominates the high ground along the Arkansas and Oklahoma border, where the Ouachita National Forest meets small valley settlements. The landscape transitions from the heights of Cowskin Ridge and Oklahoma High Top down to the drainage basin of the Poteau River. Human presence is marked by a network of rural routes like Black Ford Rd and Old Monroe Hwy, connecting isolated communities such as Bates, Gipson, and Weeks. This 2014 survey reveals a land shaped by both natural features and agricultural history, with numerous family and community burial grounds including Gipson Cem, Weeks Cem, and Sliger Cem preserved in the valley floors. In the southern reach, the Poteau River meanders near the Slough Bridge, while the higher elevations are monitored from the Poteau Lookout Tower.